Further evidence of a lower pleistocene arrival of early humans in northern Europe--the Untermassfeld site (Germany).

The discovery of 24 stone artifacts and two bone tools at the German fluvial site of Untermassfeld associated with a rich vertebrate fauna of the Epivillafranchian provide further evidence of a Lower Pleistocene arrival of early Homo in northern Europe, since results of geological, paleomagnetic and biostratigraphic investigations point to an absolute age of approximately 1.07 million years (ma). The typological study of the lithic artifacts is accompanied by the analysis of the mineralogical structure of the raw materials and use wear traces of simple flakes and retouched lithic fragments. Signs of thermal alteration on the surface of a stone tool may denote former exposure to fire. Hominin processing of animal resources is indicated by at least one knapped bone tool and bone surface modifications considered to be of cultural origin. Finally, lithic material from further archeological find sites of the Werra Valley associated with assumed Lower Pleistocene river sediments are discussed.